Articles by Chris Thompson

Groupe Dynamite (TSX: GRGD) debuted on the public market with a secondary offering, raising $300 million for existing shareholders. The IPO valued the retailer at $2.7 billion, with an EV/Revenue ratio of 3.0x, above the average for North American retail comparables. Groupe Dynamite plans to use its free cash flow to support U.S. expansion and enter the U.K. market. With revenue reaching $888.4 million in the last 12 months and a three-year CAGR of 14.9%, the company is positioned for growth in a competitive fashion landscape. Investors remain focused on its ability to sustain these trends. [more]

Paladin Energy’s proposed $1.14 billion acquisition of Fission Uranium faces further delays as Canada’s national security review under the Investment Canada Act continues. Originally expected to close in September, the deal has been extended until at least December 30, 2024. The review, focused on the Patterson Lake South (PLS) uranium project, highlights concerns over foreign control of critical resources. Despite a court ruling in Paladin’s favor, government clearance remains uncertain, posing a significant hurdle. If approved, the deal would position Paladin as a major uranium supplier with assets in Canada, Namibia, and Australia, meeting the growing demand for clean energy. [more]

We have written a 16-page Update Report on DATA Communications Management (DCM) after it released Q3/2024. DCM is a Canadian-based communications, DAM, marketing, MarTech, and social media analytics solutions provider. Revenue increased 14.5% YTD driven by the Moore Canada Corporation (MCC) acquisition. Despite a 11.4% decline in quarterly revenue due to reduced client spending and strategic account exits, DCM continued to focus on operational efficiencies and cost reductions. Adjusted EBITDA rose 6.6% Y/Y to $12.6 million, supported by MCC synergies and restructuring efforts. The company launched ASMBL and acquired Zavy Limited to expand tech-enabled solutions. DCM remains optimistic about revenue recovery and targets an improved EBITDA margin of over 14% in the coming quarters. [more]

Wonder Group, a delivery-focused food hall operator, has agreed to acquire Grubhub from Just Eat Takeaway.com for $650 million. The deal, comprising $150 million in cash and $500 million in senior notes, is expected to close in Q1/2025. Wonder plans to integrate Grubhub’s platform, which connects 375,000 merchants across 4,000 U.S. cities, to enhance its super app for meal ordering. This acquisition comes as Wonder raises $250 million to support its growth and follows its 2023 purchase of Blue Apron. Grubhub continues to face market challenges, with declining share and ongoing profitability concerns. [more]

Elliott Investment Management has invested over $5 billion in Honeywell International and is advocating for the company to split into two independent businesses: Honeywell Aerospace and Honeywell Automation. The activist investor believes this separation could drive a 51%-75% share price increase by improving operational performance and valuation. This move follows a broader trend of industrial conglomerates simplifying their structures. Honeywell has acknowledged Elliott’s input and remains committed to sustainable growth and strategic portfolio optimization. [more]

Mattr (TSX: MATR) has acquired AmerCable Inc. from Nexans S.A. (ENXTPA: NEX) for US$280 million. AmerCable, a U.S.-based producer of engineered wire and cable solutions, complements Mattr’s Shawflex business and expands its U.S. footprint, particularly in medium voltage applications. The acquisition aligns with Mattr’s growth strategy, benefiting from electrification trends and infrastructure expansion. Expected to close by year-end, the deal is projected to deliver immediate earnings accretion, improve revenue stability, and enhance operational capabilities. AmerCable’s facilities in Arkansas and Texas will integrate with Mattr’s Canadian operations, creating one of North America’s leading custom-engineered cable manufacturers. [more]

CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) is acquiring Adaptive Shield, a SaaS security provider, as part of the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. The deal enhances CrowdStrike’s Falcon® platform, addressing identity-based threats across hybrid cloud environments. With cloud exploitation threats up 110% in 2023, this acquisition underscores the industry’s push for comprehensive security solutions. CrowdStrike joins other notable deals in 2024, including CyberArk, Fortinet, and Sophos, in driving industry consolidation. The Adaptive Shield acquisition is expected to close in CrowdStrike’s fiscal Q4, delivering end-to-end SaaS security and expanding its platform’s capabilities to combat rising threats. [more]

The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) has announced its 2025 Awards recipients, recognizing excellence in the global mining industry. The awards highlight achievements in mineral exploration, Indigenous contributions, sustainability, and mine development. Recipients include the Canadian Malartic Exploration Team for the East Gouldie Deposit discovery, David Kritterdlik for advancing Inuit values, Teck Resources and UN Women for their Originarias Program in Chile, the Onto Discovery Team for the Onto Deposit discovery, and John Robins for his leadership in mining. The recipients will be celebrated during the PDAC 2025 Convention on March 4, 2025, in Toronto. [more]